Change the time format on your Apple Watch through the Watch app on your iPhone

Your Apple Watch shows the time in one of two formats: 12-hour (with AM/PM) or 24-hour (military time). To switch between them, open the Watch app on your paired iPhone, tap the Clock tab at the bottom, then scroll down and toggle 24-Hour Time on or off. The change takes effect when ready on your watch face.

If you don't see the Clock tab in your Watch app, swipe left through the tabs at the bottom until you find it. The setting syncs automatically across all watch faces you use, so you won't need to change it separately for each one.

Key Takeaways

  • Open the Watch app on your iPhone and tap the Clock tab to find the 24-hour time toggle.
  • Switching between 12-hour and 24-hour format changes the display on all your watch faces at once.
  • The time format setting is stored in the Watch app on your iPhone, not on the watch itself.
  • If your watch shows the wrong time entirely, check that it is connected to your iPhone or has synced with Wi-Fi.

Why your Apple Watch might show the wrong time

An Apple Watch that displays an incorrect time is usually out of sync with your iPhone or has lost its network connection. The watch relies on your iPhone to set its time automatically—it does not have its own independent clock setting. If you see a time that is hours off, the watch has likely not connected to your phone or to Wi-Fi since you last changed time zones.

To fix this, open the Watch app on your iPhone, go to General, then tap About. Scroll down to check the time listed there. If it matches your iPhone's time, your watch should update within a few minutes. If the times don't match, restart your iPhone and your watch by holding the side button on each device until the power-off slider appears, then slide to power off.

Syncing your watch after traveling to a new time zone

When you travel across time zones, your Apple Watch should update automatically if it is connected to your iPhone. The watch pulls the correct time from your phone, which gets it from your cellular network or Wi-Fi. You don't need to do anything—just keep your watch and iPhone near each other for a few minutes after you arrive.

If your watch still shows the old time zone after an hour, disconnect and reconnect it to your iPhone. Open the Watch app, go to General, then Reset, and choose Unpair Apple Watch. After unpairing, put your watch back on and hold it near your iPhone to pair it again. This forces a fresh sync and usually corrects time zone problems.

Changing the time on your watch face itself

You cannot manually set the time on your Apple Watch the way you would on a traditional watch. The time is always controlled by your iPhone and cannot be edited directly on the watch. This design prevents the watch from drifting out of sync with your phone and keeps both devices showing the same time.

If you need the watch to show a different time for any reason—such as for a game or demonstration—the only option is to change the time on your iPhone itself. Go to Settings on your iPhone, tap General, then Date & Time, and toggle off Set Automatically. You can then set a custom time, though this will affect all apps and notifications on both devices.

Adjusting the clock app complications on your watch face

A complication is a small widget on your watch face that displays information like the time, date, or weather. Most watch faces include a time complication by default, but you can customize which complications appear and where they sit on the face. To edit complications, press and hold your current watch face until the customization menu appears, then tap Edit.

Swipe left or right to navigate the complication slots, then tap a slot to change what it displays. You can choose from options like Analog (a traditional clock face), Digital (numbers only), Modular (large time display with other info), or Chronograph (stopwatch-style). The time itself will not change, but you can choose how it looks on your screen.

Troubleshooting when your watch won't update the time

If your watch displays an incorrect time and restarting both devices did not fix it, check that Bluetooth is turned on for your iPhone. Open Settings on your iPhone, tap Bluetooth, and make sure the toggle is on. Your watch needs Bluetooth to stay connected to your phone and receive time updates.

If Bluetooth is on but your watch still shows the wrong time, try restarting the Watch app itself. On your iPhone, swipe up from the bottom of the screen (or down from the top, depending on your model) to open Control Center, then press and hold the Bluetooth icon and toggle it off. Wait 10 seconds, toggle it back on, and check your watch. If the problem persists after these steps, your watch may need service—contact Apple Support or visit an Apple Store.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set my Apple Watch to show a different time than my iPhone?

No. Your Apple Watch always syncs its time with your iPhone and cannot be set independently. The watch pulls the time from your phone, which gets it from your cellular network or Wi-Fi. If you need the watch to display a different time, you would have to change the time on your iPhone itself, which affects all your devices.

Why does my watch show the correct time but in the wrong format?

Open the Watch app on your iPhone, tap the Clock tab, and toggle 24-Hour Time on or off depending on which format you want. This setting controls how the time appears on all your watch faces. The change takes effect within a few seconds.

My watch is stuck showing a time from hours ago. What should I do?

Restart both your iPhone and your watch by holding the side button on each until the power-off slider appears. After both devices restart, keep them near each other for a few minutes so they can reconnect. If the time still does not update, unpair your watch through the Watch app and pair it again.

Does my Apple Watch need to be connected to my iPhone to show the correct time?

Your watch needs to connect to your iPhone or Wi-Fi at least once to set the correct time. After that, it can keep accurate time for several hours without a connection. However, if you travel to a new time zone, your watch needs to reconnect to your iPhone to update automatically.